The
first sentence of the Heisman Trust Mission Statement doesn't mention
wins and losses, completion percentages or average yards per carry. It
says this: "The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the
outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the
pursuit of excellence with integrity.Isuzu Auto Parts"As
each day goes by, Florida State freshman quarterback Jameis Winston
moves farther from those words, and Alabama senior quarterback AJ
McCarron moves closer.Heisman ballots aren't due until December 9, and
there still are some big games to be played, but as things stand now, on
the field and off, I'm going to place McCarron first on my ballot, and I
will not be putting Winston in either the second or third spot.Nor for
that matter will I be making a place for Johnny Manziel, the Texas
A&M sophomore quarterback who won last year. Never before had a
freshman won the Heisman. Perhaps now we know why. Manziel has given us
an opportunity to see exactly what that looks like – autographs,
arrogance and all.The same goes for Winston. A year ago, he and some
Florida State teammates were questioned by police after 13 windows were
broken at an apartment complex after an apparent BB gun fight. Then,
this July, a Burger King employee called police to complain that Winston
was stealing soda, first using ketchup cups, then repeatedly filling a
water cup without paying.Lululemon Women's PantsCompared to an allegation of rape, which Winston is also facing,Nike Air Max this
sounds like college hijinks. Winston is not the first male college
athlete to shoot a BB gun or steal soda. But for a young man considered
the favorite for the highest honor in college sports, one with that
pesky noun "integrity" in the first sentence,canada goose jacket women this
kind of behavior should immediately give Heisman voters second
thoughts, if not a second choice.But will it? Will voters seriously pay
attention to the almost non-stop procession of Jameis Winston
off-the-field headlines? I'm not optimistic. Cam Newton threw a stolen
laptop out his dorm window, later left the University of Florida and
received a six-figure bid for his services from boosters of one SEC
school – and he won the 2010 Heisman with ease.
What's
more, while Reggie Bush returned his controversial Heisman, O.J.
Simpson still has his. Perhaps integrity went out the window with
Newton's laptop.Winston's candidacy already justifiably should have been
in trouble due to the extremely serious accusation that he sexually
assaulted a woman last December. While controversy swirls around how the
case was handled by the local police, it also is clear that Florida
State failed in its legal duty to investigate the case within 60 days of
the alleged attack. Perhaps FSU thought the law said 60 weeks, or 60
years.Any school that has a player who wins the Heisman basks in the
glow forever. Do voters really want to reward Florida State with a
Heisman after its glaring inaction in this ongoing legal mess?This
brings us to McCarron, who, at the most competitive time in college
football history, coming from the game's strongest conference, has led
Alabama to two consecutive national championships and will play for a
third if the top-ranked Crimson Tide defeat No. 4 Auburn Saturday and
then win the SEC championship game next weekend.At a time when we seem
to value the newest new thing, his is the steady, classy hand that has
guided one of the great programs of this generation. McCarron has earned
the trust and respect of Nick Saban, the best and most demanding coach
in today's game. That should count for something. He has as many
national championships as he has defeats: two. If he leads Alabama to
another title, that will be his third ring as a starter and his fourth
overall, counting his first year as a redshirt. That is just a stunning
sports statistic.Let's look at that word again: integrity. Over the
years, the Heisman mission statement has been forgotten, if it ever was
remembered, and ignored, if it ever was read at all. It's so old school
it's almost laughable. Except that it seems to describe McCarron
perfectly. The only controversy that has ever surrounded him had nothing
to do with him; it involved the industrial-strength praise heaped upon
his girlfriend, Katherine Webb,Wholesale Lingerie Sexy Lingerie by
TV commentator Brent Musburger during last season's BCS championship
game.So, explain to me again why McCarron is not the leading candidate
for this award. He certainly doesn't need the Heisman, but it sure needs
him.
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